Zirconium-based amorphous alloy, spectacle frame and method for constructing the same

ABSTRACT

A zirconium-based amorphous alloy includes 10.0 to 15.0 wt % copper, 7.0 to 13.0 wt % nickel, 5.0 to 8.0 wt % niobium, and 2.0 to 5.0 wt % aluminum, with the remainder zirconium and unavoidable impurities. A method for constructing a spectacle frame, comprises forming a nickel-niobium alloy, a weight ratio of the nickel and the niobium of which is being in a range between 7:8 and 13:5, melting the nickel-niobium alloy, mixing the molten the nickel-niobium alloy with 55.0 to 75.0 wt % Zr, 10.0 to 15.0 wt % Cu, and 2.0 to 6.0 wt % Al to form a master alloy, melting the master alloy, and molding the master alloy into a spectacle frame.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to zirconium-based amorphous alloys, spectacle frames of zirconium-based amorphous alloy, and methods for constructing the spectacle frame.

2. Description of the Related Art

Titanium alloy has desirable physical and chemical properties, such as light weight, high wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance, making it a favorable material for spectacle frames.

A spectacle frame constructed of a titanium alloy includes 20 to 40 wt % zirconium, 0.5 to 3.0 wt % hafnium, 0 to 2 wt % tantalum, 0.05 to 0.20 wt % oxygen, 0.0 to 0.15 wt % carbon, 0 to 0.01 wt % nitrogen, 0 to 0.02 wt % hydrogen, with the remainder titanium. The weight ratio of the zirconium and the hafnium is 30-50. A Young modulus of the spectacle frame is below 75 GPa (Giga Pascal). A maximum elastic strain of the spectacle frame is below 1%. However, the Young modulus of the spectacle frame is smaller, so that the spectacle frame is not worn tightly due to deformation of the spectacle frame. Furthermore, appearance of the spectacle frame is poor due to the lower maximum elastic strain of the spectacle frame.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a zirconium (Zr)-based amorphous alloy contains 10.0 to 15.0 wt % copper (Cu), 7.0 to 13.0 wt % nickel (Ni), 5.0 to 8.0 wt % niobium (Nb), and 2.0 to 5.0 wt % aluminum (Al), with the remainder zirconium (Zr) and unavoidable impurities.

An embodiment of a spectacle frame made of the Zr-based amorphous alloy is described below. The Zr-based amorphous alloy contains 10.0 to 15.0 wt % copper (Cu), 7.0 to 13.0 wt % nickel (Ni), 5.0 to 8.0 wt % niobium (Nb), and 2.0 to 5.0 wt % aluminum (Al), with the remainder zirconium (Zr) and unavoidable impurities. It was found that the percentage of Cu is preferably in a range from about 10.2 to about 13.2 wt %. The percentage of Ni is preferably in a range from about 7.5 to about 10.3 wt %. The percentage of Nb is preferably in a range from about 6.0 to about 9.1 wt %. The percentage of Al is preferably in a range from about 2.8 to about 5.0 wt %.

The Zr-based amorphous alloy has desirable mechanical properties. For example, the density of the Zr-based amorphous alloy is 6.2 to 7.0 g/cm³ (grams per cubic centimeter). The poisson's ratio of the Zr-based amorphous alloy is 0.35 to 4.0. The Young modulus of the Zr-based amorphous alloy exceeds 75 GPa (Giga Pascal). The tensile strength of the Zr-based amorphous alloy exceeds 1500 Mpa (Mega Pascal). The maximum elastic strain of the Zr-based amorphous alloy is below 1.6%.

Referring to FIG. 1, a method for constructing a spectacle frame of the disclosure follows.

In step S101, a Ni—Nb alloy can be formed by vacuum arc melting. The weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is in a range from 7:8 to 13:5;

In step S102, the Ni—Nb alloy is melted by vacuum induction;

In step S103, the Ni—Nb alloy is mixed with the 55.0 to 75.0 wt % Zr, 10.0 to 15.0 wt % Cu, and 2.0 to 6.0 wt % Al, such that these materials are melted to form a master alloy.

In step S104, the master alloy is melted in a vacuum environment;

In step S105, the master alloy is molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

In a first example of a method of manufacturing a spectacle frame, a Ni—Nb alloy can be formed by vacuum arc melting, wherein a weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is 9.7:6.1. The Ni—Nb alloy can be melted by vacuum induction and mixed with the 63.8 wt % Zr, 12.9 wt % Cu, and 3.5 wt % Al, such that these materials are melted to form a master alloy. The master alloy is melted and molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

In a second example of a method for constructing a spectacle frame includes the following steps. A Ni—Nb alloy can be formed by vacuum arc melting, wherein a weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is 10.3:6.0. The Ni—Nb alloy can be melted by vacuum induction and mixed with the 67.2 wt % Zr, 13.7 wt % Cu, and 2.8 wt % Al, to form a master alloy melted and molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

In a third example of a method for constructing a spectacle frame, a Ni—Nb alloy can be formed by vacuum arc melting, wherein a weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is 7.5:8.9. The Ni—Nb alloy can be melted by vacuum induction, and mixed with the 69.8 wt % Zr, 10.2 wt % Cu, and 3.5 wt % Al, such that these materials are melted to form a master alloy, and then melted and molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

In a fourth example of a method for constructing a spectacle frame, a Ni—Nb alloy is formed by vacuum arc melting, wherein a weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is 9.6:9.1. The Ni—Nb alloy is melted by vacuum induction and mixed with the 63.8 wt % Zr, 12.5 wt % Cu, and 3.5 wt % Al, such that these materials are melted to form a master alloy. The master alloy is then melted and molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

In a fifth example of a method for constructing a spectacle frame, a Ni—Nb alloy can be formed by vacuum arc melting, wherein a weight ratio of the Ni and the Nb is 10.0:6.3. The Ni—Nb alloy can be melted by vacuum induction, and mixed with the 65.0 wt % Zr, 13.2 wt % Cu, and 5.5 wt % Al, such that these materials are melted to form a master alloy. The master alloy is then melted and molded into a spectacle frame in a vacuum environment.

The spectacle frames of the first through fifth examples above, tested density by standard test method (GB/T1423-78), Poisson's ratio by standard test method (GB/T8653-88), Young modulus by standard test method (GB/T8653-88), tensile strength by standard test method (GB/T6397-86), and maximum elastic strain by standard test method (HB5488-91). The chemical compositions of the Zr-based amorphous alloys are listed in Table 1. The results of the mechanical property tests of the spectacle frames are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 1 Chemical compositions of Zr-based amorphous alloys Alloys Cu (wt %) Ni (wt %) Nb (wt %) Al (wt %) The first example 12.9 9.7 6.1 3.5 The second example 13.7 10.3 6.0 2.8 The third example 10.2 7.5 8.9 3.5 The fourth example 12.5 9.6 9.1 3.5 The fifth example 13.2 10.0 6.3 5.5

TABLE 2 Mechanical properties of spectacle frames Maximum Poisson's Young Tensile elastic Density ratio modulus strength strain Spectacle frames (g/cm³) (/) (GPa) (Mpa) (%) The first example 6.7 0.38 86.7 1800 2.0 The second 6.8 0.38 85.8 1750 2.0 example The third example 6.9 0.38 87.0 1780 2.0 The fourth 6.7 0.38 86.3 1730 1.9 example The fifth example 6.4 0.38 85.2 1700 1.9

As can be seen from Table 1 and 2, the advantages of the spectacle frame of the disclosure include a density of the Zr-based amorphous alloy at below 7.0 g/cm³, making the spectacle frame light in weight and comfortably wearable to a user, a Poisson's ratio of elastic constant of transverse deformation of material for the Zr-based amorphous alloy at about 0.38, representing transverse deformation of the spectacle frame to be perfectible and easily moldable, a Young modulus of the Zr-based amorphous alloy exceeding 75 Gpa whereby the rigidity of the Zr-based amorphous alloy exceeds that of a titanium alloy such that the spectacle frame is not prone to deform, a tensile strength of the Zr-based amorphous alloy exceeds 700 MPa, whereby the spectacle frame is not damaged easily, and a maximum elastic strain of the Zr-based amorphous alloy at over 1% meaning the spectacle frame is adaptable to a variety of models.

It is to be understood that the Zr-based amorphous alloy can also be used for other products, such as watch bands and buttons.

Finally, while the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the description is illustrative of the disclosure and is not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Therefore, various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A zirconium-based amorphous alloy comprising 10.0 to 15.0 wt % copper, 7.0 to 13.0 wt % nickel, 5.0 to 8.0 wt % niobium, 2.0 to 5.0 wt % aluminum, with the remainder zirconium and unavoidable impurities.
 2. The zirconium-based amorphous alloy of claim 1, wherein a density of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy is in a range between 6.2 g/cm³ and 7.0 g/cm³.
 3. The zirconium-based amorphous alloy of claim 1, wherein a Poisson's ratio of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy is in a range between 0.35 and 4.0.
 4. The zirconium-based amorphous alloy of claim 1, wherein a Young modulus of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy exceeds 75 GPa.
 5. The zirconium-based amorphous alloy of claim 1, wherein a tensile strength of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy exceeds 1500 Mpa.
 6. The zirconium-based amorphous alloy of claim 1, wherein a maximum elastic strain of the zirconium-based amorphous alloy is below 1.6%.
 7. A spectacle frame made of a zirconium-based amorphous alloy, the zirconium-based amorphous alloy comprising 10.0 to 15.0 wt % copper, 7.0 to 13.0 wt % nickel, 5.0 to 8.0 wt % niobium, 2.0 to 5.0 wt % aluminum, with the remainder zirconium and unavoidable impurities.
 8. A method for constructing a spectacle frame, comprising: forming a nickel-niobium alloy, a weight ratio of the nickel and the niobium being in a range between 7:8 and 13:5; melting the nickel-niobium alloy; mixing the molten the nickel-niobium alloy with 55.0 to 75.0 wt % Zr, 10.0 to 15.0 wt % Cu, and 2.0 to 6.0 wt % Al to form a master alloy; melting the master alloy; and molding the master alloy into a spectacle frame.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the nickel-niobium alloy is formed by vacuum arc melting.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the nickel-niobium alloy is melted by vacuum induction.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the master alloy is melted and molded in a vacuum environment. 